§ 14. Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will approach the various Government Departments concerned with a view to the formation of a joint committee for the systematic supply at the public expense of Bibles and New Testaments to all persons in His Majesty's military and naval forces, all prisoners of war, all inmates of workhouses and Poor Law infirmaries, reformatories, Poor Law and industrial schools, and prisons, who may desire to receive the same?
§ Mr. TENNANTI have already informed my hon. Friend of the arrangements for the supply of Bibles and Prayer-books to soldiers. I am afraid that, however desirable might be the object in view, the War Office can hardly find time to take the initiative in any such comprehensive scheme as my hon Friend sketches out; and I may add that the Army Council have no information as to whether the inmates of workhouses, Poor Law infirmaries, reformatories, Poor Law and industrial schools, and prisons are or are not already supplied with Bibles and New Testaments. Those institutions are not in any way within the purview or control of the Army Council.